Method for determining wear of a connector contact using atom transfer radical polymerization

Abstract

A method for examining wear of a connector contact using atom transfer radical polymerization. Metals in the connector contact are involved in atom transfer radical polymerization. In the method, polymers are formed via atom transfer radical polymerization. An average molecular weight and a polydispersity index of the polymers are determined. The exposure of underlying metal layers of the connector contact is determined based on the average molecular weight and atom transfer radical polymerization.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for examining wear of a connector contact using atom transfer radical polymerization, the method comprising:
 placing the connector contact into a reactor; 
 adding chemicals for the atom transfer radical polymerization to the reactor; 
 determining an average molecular weight and a polydispersity index of polymers in a sample from the reactor; and 
 determining whether an underlying metal layer of the connector contact is exposed, based on the average molecular weight and the polydispersity index. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that no copper layer and no nickel layer are exposed, in response to determining that no atom transfer radical polymerization occurs. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a nickel layer of the connector contact is exposed, in response to determining that the polydispersity index is greater than 2. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that a copper layer of the connector contact is exposed, in response to determining that the polydispersity index is less than 2. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 keeping the reactor at a predetermined temperature. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 stirring the reactor for a predetermined time period. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 withdrawing the sample containing the polymers from the reactor. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 deoxygenating the reactor. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the average molecular weight of the polymers with a standard profile of the average molecular weight versus time for the atom transfer radical polymerization; and 
 determining a metal that initiates the atom transfer radical polymerization. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing monomer conversion with a standard profile of the monomer conversion versus time for the atom transfer radical polymerization; and 
 determining a metal that initiates the atom transfer radical polymerization. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the polydispersity index of the polymers with a standard profile of the polydispersity index versus time for the atom transfer radical polymerization; and 
 determining a metal that initiates the atom transfer radical polymerization.